Boo_Boo Loc: Jellystone

More convenient for you, but difficult to read and reply to. I will reply when you make your position clear and use the quote reply button. I will not take my time to sort out what you are trying to say. But, thank you for the comment.

Boo_Boo Loc: Jellystone

That is very labor intensive and the data would have to be requested under FOIA for past presidents. Request would be denied because the information is simply not kept for an indefinite period of time. And I do not have an interest in doing that amount of research and leg work for an individual who will not accept the information after it is done. That would be a waste of my time. Now, is it my problem that Obama does not have a ranch or other vacation spots. Are you proposing that the American taxpayer should furnish him with other residences? He has complete access to Camp David which is really quite peaceful, safe, and has been used by presidents for quite a few years as a place to vacation.

Now then, if you do the leg work and request historical information, then I will be happy to review it without biasedness. And this is a very honest reply.

rumitoid

The five worst state for handling tax dollars are: North Carolina, Washington D.C. (there's a surprise), Louisiana, Alabama, and Mississippi.

Caboose Loc: South Carolina

Is this supposed to divert attention from Ojama?

MarvinSussman

It is a simple fact that successful law professors send their children abroad on vacations. In effect, you are saying that if such a person becomes President, his children should forego that experience. Ergo, to be fair to children, only the very rich should be elected President.

I know you are a conservative, but isn't that a bit much?

MarvinSussman

It is a simple fact that successful law professors send their children abroad on vacations. In effect, you are saying that if such a person becomes President, his children should forego that experience. Ergo, to be fair to children, only the very rich should be elected President.

I know you are a conservative, but isn't that a bit much?

Boo_Boo Loc: Jellystone

I must be missing the connection with vacations of Obama's family members and your reply. Would you like to explain.

Boo_Boo Loc: Jellystone

I spent time abroad, went to a finishing school abroad. My parents paid for that educational experience. I did not say that Obama should or should not send his children or wife on vacation or even to schools abroad. But, he should pay for the expenses himself and not use taxpayer money. Further, I think that a person born in less fortunate circumstances have a better understanding of the needs and desires of average Americans. It is sad that they can not compete with the money machines that pump millions of dollars to party favorites. And, it may surprise you but Obama has quite a pile of personal assets. See http://blogs.rollcall.com/moneyline/obama-and-biden-disclose-personal-financial-wealth/ in the middle of the page, you will find a link to his disclosure statement. Note, this is from the White House files.

Glaucon

When you use the nonword, obummer to insult our president, it reveals the desperation of your biases and turns readers off to whet ever points you are trying to make. If you want to be seen as other than an extremely biased, mean spirited clown, leave out the cutesy insults.

MarvinSussman

You are implying that conservative Presidents always paid for all the trips of their children. Got proof? Or just talk?

Dummy Boy Loc: Michigan

I think it's kinda funny...

Besides Eisenhower had Obama beat at hours of gold and the highest tax-rate of any president (for the wealthy).

Boo_Boo Loc: Jellystone

Surly you have me confused with someone else. I do not ever recall using "Obummer" I refer to him as: Obama or Mr Obama. None of these terms are disrespectful, unless the omission of Mr in front of his name. I do not think of him as my president, so it would be rare, but I think that I have called him President. I do not recall me ever referring to anyone in an insulting manner or calling anyone a nasty name. It defeats the message. I have said many times that I do not have anything personal against Obama, I have issues with what he has done and his policies that I feel have hurt the American people.

Boo_Boo Loc: Jellystone

You want to argue, you offer no documentations or reference. I do not fight, so either offer up your supporting evidence or go ask these questions of someone you can get frustrated and call you names. You remind me of the one relative that no one in our family will invite to dinner. They are disagreeable without reason, impolite to point of insulting, and closed minded. Even I have a rough time being around them. I can suffer their stupidity for a very short time and then I excuse myself. And that is what I am doing with you; please excuse me I think that I saw a reasonable post I will respond to and engage in meaningful conversation. Do take care and enjoy yourself.

rumitoid

No, you're not missing it; there is none. Just a little footnote as the topic is about tax dollars at work. I expected it to be a battle between NY and CA, with possibly MA not far behind for the worst.

MarvinSussman

It comes down to honesty:

WASHINGTON, DC, September 27, 2012 - Several surveys including scholarship from the US Department of Education have concluded that children who travel over summer break do better in reading, math and their general knowledge than those who do not. Traveling enables kids to broaden their horizons and learn that the world is not made up of the limited confines of their neighborhoods.

But when your name is Malia Obama and your parents include the President and First Lady of the United States, it’s not that easy to head off on a trip without the presence of the Secret Service.

That is just what was required to protect the first daughter during a March 2012 spring break trip to Mexico. It was the same type of protection afforded to Jenna and Barbara Bush when they took a spring break trip to Argentina.

The argument has been made by some opponents to Malia’s parents that the security required for the trip was a waste of tax payer dollars. Perhaps at their urging, government watchdog group Judicial Watch chose to sue the US Secret Service for failing to oblige by its Freedom of Information Act request for documentation detailing the cost of Malia’s security detail. The group has compiled details of the cost of the Obamas’ various vacations and trips throughout the president’s first term in office.

A cursory review through the site’s archives does not reveal that the group made similar efforts to obtain information on the travels of the previous Republican administration, however. The conservative organization has filed 18 lawsuits against the Bill Clinton and other Democratic administrations, however.

It smacks of another instance of intellectual dishonesty, as this group and other loud complainers launched no similar outcry when the offspring of a president they favored took advantage of the same privileges afforded all children of US Presidents.

It is reminiscent of the same outcry over the First Lady’s decision to travel to Africa. Several conservative sites made a big deal of it and pointed out the fact that Michelle and her daughters and a cousin went on safari during a diplomatic mission.

Yet, those upset over the Obama safari trip didn’t have the same opposition to Laura Bush who visited Africa 5 times during her husband’s two terms in office. She too attended a safari. Laura and daughters Barbara and Jenna ended their diplomatic mission trip at the Madikwe Game Reserve on the South African-Botswana border.

By the end of George W. Bush’s tenure, Laura had traveled to 10 different countries, the most visits than any other First Lady before her.

During her travels, Laura Bush’s daughters accompanied her on tours to remote villages. Former First Daughter Barbara Bush has said her 2003 trip to Africa with her parents sparked her interest in global health. She later returned to work in a hospital in South Africa and is currently president of the Global Health Corps, a non-profit organization she founded that is trying to bring health equity to the United States and Africa.

Similarly, while on Spring break in 1997, Chelsea Clinton joined her mother in South Africa during Hillary Clinton’s two-week Africa visit. She also toured impoverished areas of the various countries during the trip and later decided to choose southern Africa as her honeymoon destination, vacationing in Namibia after her wedding to Marc Mezvinsky in 2010.

There is scant recollection of any outcry when US Secret Service was used to protect these ladies during these trips.

Some point out that during a recovering economy, heads of states should show some empathy and solidarity and scale back ostentatious travels.

While that is true for office holders, the same standard shouldn’t necessarily be hoisted upon their offspring who are not elected officials. They shouldn’t be made to go without the educational and enriching experience of overseas travel simply because some Americans despise their parents.

Further, the Bush twins caused such a stir while visiting Argentina that the US Consulate offices asked them to cut their trip short for the sake of security concerns. They did not.
And the economy during their maiden journey in 2006?

According to a Center for American Progress report, in that year economic growth slipped to 2 percent in the third quarter, consumption growth dipped to below 3 % in two consecutive quarters for the first time in over three years, retail sales weakened, job growth continued to drop to 14.5% slower in 2006 than two years prior, wages made up a record low share of the national income, home appreciations decreased in the first three quarters of 2006, consumer debt soared to new heights reaching a record 130.9% by the end of the third quarter, mortgage delinquencies rose to 4.7% of all mortgages in the third quarter, the trade deficit widened, and there were 2.2 bankruptcy cases per 1,000 people in the third quarter.
It would be intellectually dishonest for one to raise a stink about Malia’s trip in this economy yet have had nothing negative or critical to say about the Bush twins too traveling abroad in the same year the nation was feeling the pinch under their dad’s presidency.

Judicial Watch’s critical admonishment of overt government spending loses its credibilty if not lodged evenly irrespective of political affiliation. What would be a reasonable request looks more like a witch hunt of a little kid’s enrichment trip simply because the group doesn’t like the girl’s dad.